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Past Event

When artists Susan Gill Jackson and Dancy St. John work together in their studio, they blare Sonia Dada.

"We like the same music and it keeps us moving and getting things done," Jackson said. "It's a rockin' good time."

When she needs to concentrate, Jackson will listen to classical music.

"I have a set of operas and when I'm by myself I will crank up Madame Butterfly and let those passions come out into my paintings, or not," she said.

On Saturday, people will have the opportunity to see how artists work in their studios on the Steamboat Springs Arts Council's Artist Studio Tour.

"It makes people more aware of what's involved with the finished products they see in galleries," said Marilyn Searls, chairperson for the Tour. "They are sometimes amazed because there is a lot of work that goes into them."

The tour is a fundraiser for the Steamboat Springs Arts Council and will feature 15 artists whose private and commercial studios will be open to visitors.

The tour begins with coffee, breakfast and live music by pianist Mary Martin Stockdale at the Depot Art Center at 9 a.m. Participants then are given a map and sent to South Routt with coupons for lunch.

There are large educational and inspirational components to the tour.

"As an artist, I love to go to artists' studios to see where they work, how they work, what materials they use and to get ideas," said artist Audrey Kruse.

Some of the things participants can learn from her are how to not get frustrated and keep working on a painting until it evolves.

"A lot of paintings in the beginning don't look like what you imagined in your head, but sometimes the painting just paints itself," Kruse said. "If you're lucky."

Kruse sometimes shares Vickie Rosenzweig's studio because they are painting buddies and they typically spend more time talking than painting.

"But we always talk about art and are critiquing when we are in the studio," Kruse said.

Rosenzweig appreciates participating in these tours because of the opportunity it gives her to meet the public and educate them in the media she is using.

"There's nothing like having personal contact with your costumers and people can then associate your work with a person," she said. "I had people 20 years later remember my studio."